More than Numbers

About Me

Not Saying

I don't usually blog anonymously, but I don't want my friends stumbling on this because I know money is a lot tighter for them. I can't be honest without seeming like I have a lot, because I do. I'm really not bragging, I do feel that money is how people with no talent keep score, and that it doesn't mean much for self worth or anything.
I am in my 40s and realized years ago that having extra money (more than you need) gives you freedom and less anxiety. I really enjoy doing new things, and I've made a point of learning about money and finances and investments, and have tried many different ways to get income.

Viewing the 'Not planned' Category

I joined upromise to help a good friend pay off her student loans. She's already out of school, I think the program is through Sallie Mae.
I set up the toolbar so all my relevant online purchases will get credited.
I also applied for a credit card and got it, it will give 3% on top of any other deals towards her loans. The bank gave me a $15,000 limit, so I'm thinking crazy credit is the norm again. (I have a few things to post about this in the future, I've played some funny credit card games - all in my favour!).
I have already done some shopping using my card and the upromise site, and bought things I usually purchase like flea stuff for the cat, cat food, and last night I went through drugstore.com and picked up a few things I usually buy and have wanted. I think so far I've made her about $40 for her loans. A few of the places gave back 8% when I used the credit card too.

I made one unplanned purchase; I bought one share of a stock certificate from the 99 cent only store (NDN). I am getting an actual certificate, matted and an engraved plaque which I am having 'Thanks for the ride'. I have bought a lot of this stock (NDN) over the years, its made me a lot of money, and its about to go private. I currently have hundreds of shares which I guess will be sold. The shareholders meeting is tomorrow to vote, but since the board wants to sell I assume it is a done deal. So I guess this is officially artwork.

TO DO - make a list of all the stuff I buy and compare online prices. I don't like shopping (except at the farmers market) and tend to buy most things online anyhow.

I created a new 'not planned' category. Thought about calling it 'impulse', but that seemed to have a negative connotation. And not all my not-planned spending are impulse, some are pretty calculated.

I think I could also call this emotional spending, a lot of the justification is for emotions not so much logic.

My spending this week includes:
$500 for a trailer that has a lot of sentimental attachment to me and the sale will help someone who is not able to buy groceries. I don't have room or use for the trailer so I'm 'lending' it to a good friend to use indefinitely.

$555 for a painting that I'm bidding on on ebay. Its from a new artist who I follow on YouTube for another reason. She lives in an eastern european country and has trouble making ends meet (like most folks), I also am 'friends' with her on facebook and I see her financial struggles, she lost her job for a bit, etc. I personally would like to see her quit her day job and focus on the activism she does (and shows on youtube), and sell paintings to make ends meet. So that was one reason to bid so high. Another was I really like the painting, she even did a video of how she made it, and I would really like to have it in my house. I have never bought art like this before so that's exciting too. Most of the stuff on my walls are either gifts, from the dumpster (seriously, but its a beautiful oil painting in a really nice frame), or prints/sketches I picked up on my travels. There are 4 paintings on auction, all are currently over $400. She's only auctioned one before for $81. She started painting in November. I suppose its possible they will become quite valuable, but I don't know what exactly that means to me since I'm not buying it as an investment but to have forever.
What is art worth? I've been thinking about that a lot these last few days (as I've bid on a painting more than I've ever bid and I'm deciding if I want to up my bid to make sure I get it, how high should I go?) I'm trying to equate price with enjoyment. Isn't that a hard task!

$100 or so on home decorating. I've been organizing and decided that not only did everything need a place, but it had to be a nice one. So, for one of the few times in my life, I went out to buy stuff to put stuff in (besides plastic bins, I always buy those!). For example, I have been using the cardboard box that my space heater came in as a paper recycling bin in my home office. I upgraded that to a basket. I didn't use any of the baskets I own because I wanted a specific size, so I went to the Fair trade market and bought one for $14. Its beautiful. I look at it constantly since I can see it from my computer.